Between the Rounds: Opera Boxing and The Greatest Corner speech ever
GREATEST CORNER SPEECH EVER
The one minute break between the rounds for Pro Boxers is more than just a squirt from a water bottle and an ice pack on the back of the neck. It can be as intense - and as crucial - as the round itself.
It's like a Formula One pit stop. The corner team have to refresh, revive and re motivate the fighter, who may have a broken head and a broken spirit. Expert cut-men perform major repair work, while the head trainer talks tactics.
It all happens in less than a minute - and the right words in a boxer's ear can turn the fight around.
Perhaps there is no better example of motivation from the corner than the "Tomorrow You'll Cry" speech - when back in 1994 trainer Teddy Atlas inspired Michael Moorer between the rounds, to dethrone Heavy Weight Champ Evander Holyfield. Here it is :
"Do you want me to trade places with you - is that what you want ? Listen, this guy is at the end of his rope. There comes a time in a man's life when he has to decide if he wants to live, survive or win. You're doing just enough to keep him away from you and hope that he leaves you in peace. You're lying to yourself, but tomorrow you'll be crying ! You're lying to yourself and I would be lying too if I let you get away with it. But tomorrow you'll be crying over it. Do you want to cry tomorrow ? Then don't lie to yourself !"
Not surprisingly Moorer turned things around and went on to win the world Heavy Weight Title.
As many of you know, I spent about 5 years in corner teams, travelling around Australia and the world with Mark Pitts' Pro Boxers - from our base at North Sydney PCYC. I trained with the boxers, ran with them at sunrise and "worked the corner" on fight night.
One of these fights was a world title challenge when I travelled to Germany in 2006. Our boxer, Sakio "Scorpion" Bika current IBO world champ and Contender 3 series winner fought for the WBC world title in front of 6 million live TV viewers.
I only have one photo of myself and Sakio that night - someone snapped it in the dressing room straight after the fight. It captures Sakio's despair and exhaustion at coming so close ( the fight was a draw). The shot is at this link - scroll to the bottom http://boxingathome.com/about.html
After this fight, Sakio went on to become world Super Middleweight Champ - a title he still holds.
OPERA BOXING (the Box Opera ?)
Part Pavarotti part Manny Pacquiao - but looking like neither of them - our Sam got in the ring and did what many said could never be done - Opera Boxing. Full volume opera in the square ring- and that was just round 1.
For Round 2 she cleared her throat, flicked back her hair and strapped a pair of 10 oz gloves. Falsetto became Fighting machine, Sambo changed her tune and pumped out her best gattling-gun combos for the encore. The crowd didn't know whether to cry or duck. So they just cheered. Bravo. Bravo.
Here it is if you missed it :
See you in the ring,
Patrick
The one minute break between the rounds for Pro Boxers is more than just a squirt from a water bottle and an ice pack on the back of the neck. It can be as intense - and as crucial - as the round itself.
It's like a Formula One pit stop. The corner team have to refresh, revive and re motivate the fighter, who may have a broken head and a broken spirit. Expert cut-men perform major repair work, while the head trainer talks tactics.
It all happens in less than a minute - and the right words in a boxer's ear can turn the fight around.
Perhaps there is no better example of motivation from the corner than the "Tomorrow You'll Cry" speech - when back in 1994 trainer Teddy Atlas inspired Michael Moorer between the rounds, to dethrone Heavy Weight Champ Evander Holyfield. Here it is :
"Do you want me to trade places with you - is that what you want ? Listen, this guy is at the end of his rope. There comes a time in a man's life when he has to decide if he wants to live, survive or win. You're doing just enough to keep him away from you and hope that he leaves you in peace. You're lying to yourself, but tomorrow you'll be crying ! You're lying to yourself and I would be lying too if I let you get away with it. But tomorrow you'll be crying over it. Do you want to cry tomorrow ? Then don't lie to yourself !"
Not surprisingly Moorer turned things around and went on to win the world Heavy Weight Title.
As many of you know, I spent about 5 years in corner teams, travelling around Australia and the world with Mark Pitts' Pro Boxers - from our base at North Sydney PCYC. I trained with the boxers, ran with them at sunrise and "worked the corner" on fight night.
One of these fights was a world title challenge when I travelled to Germany in 2006. Our boxer, Sakio "Scorpion" Bika current IBO world champ and Contender 3 series winner fought for the WBC world title in front of 6 million live TV viewers.
I only have one photo of myself and Sakio that night - someone snapped it in the dressing room straight after the fight. It captures Sakio's despair and exhaustion at coming so close ( the fight was a draw). The shot is at this link - scroll to the bottom http://boxingathome.com/about.html
After this fight, Sakio went on to become world Super Middleweight Champ - a title he still holds.
OPERA BOXING (the Box Opera ?)
Part Pavarotti part Manny Pacquiao - but looking like neither of them - our Sam got in the ring and did what many said could never be done - Opera Boxing. Full volume opera in the square ring- and that was just round 1.
For Round 2 she cleared her throat, flicked back her hair and strapped a pair of 10 oz gloves. Falsetto became Fighting machine, Sambo changed her tune and pumped out her best gattling-gun combos for the encore. The crowd didn't know whether to cry or duck. So they just cheered. Bravo. Bravo.
Here it is if you missed it :
See you in the ring,
Patrick
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